The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-06
The Sunday School.
LESSON FOR AUGUST IA, 1887.
BY REV. ROBERT t. POLK.
THE BEATITUDES.
rrr.1I 1c /
LESSON FOR AUGUST IA, 1887.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
Matthew v. 1-16.]


While the Gospel by Matthew is without
chronological order, it has literary order and
an orderly purpose. Its manifest purpose is
to represent JESUS as the Messiah OF the
Hebrew Scriptures. 1t is an historical argu-
ment rather than chronological narrative.
The general history is summarized ana the
incidents are grouped and classified, rather
than narrated in the order of their occur
RANCE. The Sermon on the Mount was spoken
more than year, probably, after JESUS be-
gun his public ministry, and after some OF
the incidents recorded in chapter xii. The
nethod seems to be to describe the advent OF
Jrsus as in accordance with the Scriptures;
then to show that he came not to destroy, but
to fulfil the law of Moses,-the Sermon on
the Mount being an extended discourse, OF as
some think, a series of discourses, enforcing
the moral principles of the Ten Command
ments; then follows a group of events which
ocourred in his itinerant ministry previously
described (iv. 23), exhibiting the "signs" by
which the Messiah should be known; and
these are followed by illustrative teachings
and application of s'the prophets" to the his
tory of the times and the coming age"
The literary order Is apparent. witnessing
the multitudes that are described as foiiow-
inc in his itinerant ministry, JESUS is repre-
scented az Withdrawing from the plain OF
Gennessaret to the mountain region, where
he specially instructed his disciples, partlcu-
larlv the Twelve whom he had chosen to be
APOSTLES Luke vi. 1920, in the principles
and privileges, the doctrines and duties OF tne
kingdom of heaven. The description may
be picturesque rather than literal. The Evan
gelist may have described in one scene the
teaching which JESUS specially gave to MS
favored disciples when in retirement among
the mountains. No particular mountain Is
described by the language employed, but
contrast ia implied between the public min
istry of JESUS on the lake-shore, and his more
private ministry in the adjacent mountain
region. Whether the scene literally occurred
as described or not, the significance OF the
teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is the
same. Whether it is the report OF one dis
course of our Lord, or many discourses COM
bined in one report, the Sermon on the Mount
is matchless for the greatness and simplicity,
the sublimity and beauty of its teachings.
The unrivalled beauties of our Lords
thought and style, the lofty simplicity, the
charming freshness and perfect naturalness,
the familiar and vivid illustration, the pointed
and sometimes paradoxical and startling
statement, which, even when imperfectly
understood, could never be forgotten, the
sublime elevation of sentiment, and the in
imitable tone which marks all his teachings,
shine conspicuous in this address, whlcn Is
sweet to the heart of child, and before
which the noblest intellects in every age have
bowed in devout admiration. Well might
Daniel Webster say, in the inscription he left
for his tomb: "My heart has always assured
me ard treasured me that the Gospel of
JESUS CHRIST must be Divine reality. The
Sermon on the Mount cannot be merely
human production. DIR. BroGdus, Com
mentary on Matthew"